New Hampshire: We Don't JUST Tip Cows Here

Sunday, April 20, 2008

"What!" you say. You are now probably thinking that everything in New Hampshire is where it is supposed to be. Nothing is out of place.

Well, you are wrong.

Have you ever heard of places in New Hampshire called Panaway, or Nashville (not the one in Tennessee), Nutter, Fittsville, or Trecothick? How about Mittersill, Tunis, Rockywold, and Whitcherville?

I thought not.

All of these are names of places that ONCE existed in New Hampshire, and now have disappeared. A few places have lost all their inhabitants, but left the buildings, such as Gosport, on the Isles of Shoals.

Are these and other places in New Hampshire disappearing, similar to our cows--the ones that originally put the "Cow" in "Cow Hampshire." Where did they GO anyway?

In 1853 we had 94,277 milking cows, which increased to 115,036 in 1900. By 2002 this number had dropped to 17,467, and has dwindled lower since then.

Perhaps as the result of a power plant that will take manure from a dairy operation and turn it into "renewable" natural gas, the population of dairy cows will some day rise again.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

I have been since I first voted back in the 1970s. However, growing up in New Hampshire I voted many times for Republicans when I felt they were the best candidate. In other words, I'm a conservative Democrat.

Now, moving on to what is happening now.....

I am not racist. I need to state that first so no one throws the "race card" at me, resulting in a paper cut.

I was one of the earliest to state unequivocally that George Bush (the Shrub) scared the hell out of me (when he ran both times). I didn't vote for him. Now I'll state unequivocally that Barack Obama scares the hell out of me.

If he wins the Democratic nomination I have two choices....

1) I will vote for the Republican nominee

2) I won't vote at all.

I'm leaning toward #2.

WTF are the idiots who vote for him in the primary. I don't GAF if the Kennedy family supports his nomination or not. He is a scary dude.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

One hundred and thirty one years ago, a far-seeing reporter for the "Farmer's Cabinet" saw the future. Either that, or he was simply a good guesser.

He predicted freight trains drawn by noiseless power, undersea tunnels, increased air travel using a yet to be discovered technology, and parcels that "dart like lightning" (email).

Trying to foretell the future is not hooey. Science fiction writer, Octavia Butler, said "the very act of trying to look ahead to discern possibilities and offer warnings is in itself an act of hope." I agree with her.

So, today I offer these predictions for one hundred years from now...

- computers (as we know them) will be out. It will be found that computers increased communication, but decreased socialization. In order to at least mimic socialization, a new form of communication (based on not yet created hologram technology) will be in vogue, and will replace computers, telephones, and be used also for distance learning and corporate meetings.

- medical technology. Implantable, and wearable sensors will be the norm, providing information to health care professionals instantly -- from blood to brain function. Nanocytes will be used instead of chemotherapy or surgery to battle disease, and help to heal injuries.

- politics. Either Canada or Mexico, or both will join with the current United States to form a new combined country.

So, what do you think will be in vogue 100 years from now? Will the World Wide Web even be around for anyone to see my prediction and comment? What will replace it?